Emergency fuel

ABSTRACT

An emergency fuel for an internal combustion engine comprises a hydrocarbon solvent having a flash point of at least 100° F. (such as about 65-75% paraffins and about 25-35% naphthenes, or about 75-85% paraffins and about 15-25% of C7 or higher alcohols, or an aromatic solvent, or an naphthalene-depleted aromatic solvent) and a cold starting additive. The cold starting additive may be provided in an amount of less than 5,000 ppm, preferably between about 1 ppm and 150 ppm. The cold starting additive is preferably selected from peroxides, azo compounds, cyano compounds, cetane improvers, or combinations of these compounds. When the emergency fuel is added to a cold engine, including one substantially at room temperature, the engine may be easily started.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application is based upon U.S. Provisional ApplicationSerial No. 60/145,943 filed Jul. 28, 1999, the disclosure of which ishereby incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention concerns an emergency fuel for a vehicle,i.e. a fuel that can be used when a vehicle is low on fuel or runs outof fuel. The emergency fuel is safe to store until it is required in anemergency. The emergency fuel is capable of starting a cold engine.

[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 5,681,358 discloses an emergency fuel comprisingmineral spirits having a flash point of at least 100° F. and a boilingpoint of 320-400° F. The mineral spirits may be a mineral spirit or amixture of n-butanol and isomers of amyl alcohol, 1-pentanol, or amixture of 0-100% mineral spirit with 0-100% of an oxygenated solvent.The preferred flash point is in the range of 104-110° F. The emergencyfuel is only capable of starting a warmed up motor. The '358 patentstates that if the motor is cold then a ‘starter fluid’, such as abutane spray in the carburetor, may help start the motor. In all of theexamples, the emergency fuel failed to start a cold motor.

[0004] One goal of the present invention is to provide an emergency fuelthat is capable of starting a cold motor. The invention also seeks toprovide an emergency fuel that has a relatively high flash point (inexcess of 140° F.) and a relatively high distillation range (approaching370° F. to 400° F.).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0005] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there isprovided an emergency fuel for an internal combustion engine comprisinga hydrocarbon solvent having a flash point of at least 100° F. and acold starting additive.

[0006] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention thereis also provided a method of starting a cold engine with an emergencyfuel comprising a hydrocarbon solvent having a flash point of at least100° F., the method comprising the steps of adding a cold startingadditive to the emergency fuel, and supplying the emergency fuel to acold engine (e.g. substantially at ambient temperature), and startingthe engine.

[0007] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention thereis also provided use of a cold starting additive to start a cold enginewith an emergency fuel comprising a hydrocarbon solvent having a flashpoint of at least 100° F.

[0008] In accordance with yet another aspect of the present inventionthere is also provided an additive system for an emergency fuel, theadditive system comprising a cold starting additive.

[0009] The cold starting additive is preferably selected from the groupconsisting essentially of: peroxides, azo compounds, cyano compounds,cetane improvers, and combinations thereof.

[0010] The peroxide is preferably di-t-butyl peroxide. The cetaneimprover is preferably selected from nitrates, nitrites, and nitro andnitroso compounds. The cold starting additive is preferably acombination of at least two additives selected from the group consistingessentially of: peroxides, azo compounds, cyano compounds, and cetaneimprovers.

[0011] The cold starting additive is preferably present in an amountless than 5,000 ppm, more preferably less than 1,000 ppm, even morepreferably less than 150 ppm, and most preferably between about 1 ppmand 125 ppm.

[0012] The hydrocarbon solvent preferably comprises:

[0013] (a) from about 65-75%, preferably about 70%, of paraffins, andfrom about 25-35%, preferably about 30%, of naphthenes;

[0014] (b) from about 75-85%, preferably about 80%, of paraffins, andfrom about 15-25%, preferably about 20%, of 07 or higher alcohols;

[0015] (c) an aromatic solvent (of conventional composition);

[0016] (d) a naphthalene-depleted aromatic solvent; or

[0017] (e) combinations of (a)-(d).

[0018] The hydrocarbon solvent preferably has a flash point of at least140° F., more preferably at least about 150° F.

[0019] The invention will now be described, by way of example, withreference to the following:

EXAMPLE

[0020] An emergency fuel was prepared comprising a blend of a highboiling isoparaffinic hydrocarbon stock having a flash point of >144° F.and about 100 ppm of di-t-butyl peroxide (“DTBP”). The blend wasthoroughly mixed and then introduced into a gasoline tank of a testvehicle. The emergency fuel was tested using a 1997 Buick Riviera havinga 3.81 V6 SFI engine. The vehicle was operated until it ran out of fuel.Any fuel in the gasoline lines leading to the gasoline tank was drainedaway. Approximately one gallon of the emergency fuel was introduced intothe gas tank. The ambient temperature was recorded. The vehicle wasstarted while it was still warm. The vehicle was operated on the openroad. It was then parked and allowed to cool for one hour, at which timea restart was attempted. An attempt at starting the engine was also madeafter an additional hour of cool-down. The same test was also carriedout for comparative purposes using: a commercial product sold under U.S.Pat. No. 5,681,358; normal paraffin having a flash point of >144° F.;and isoparaffin having a flash point of >144° F. The results are shownbelow. After After 1 Hour 2 Hours Cool-Down Cool-Down Ambient (no. of(no. of Temper- Product Warm Start cranks) cranks) ature Commercial Yes 7 22 54° F. product of US- A-57681,358, sold as SPARE TANK ™ EmergencyFuel, (Flash Point >105° F. Normal Yes, with  6 80 52° F. paraffinsevere (Flash Point knock >144 ° F. Isoparaffin Yes 11 84 36° F. (FlashPoint >144° F.) Isoparaffin + Yes  3  9 49° F. 100 ppm DTBP (FlashPoint >144° F.)

[0021] Thus the product according to the invention (the last listedproduct) had significantly-improved cold starting ability compared tothe other products tested.

[0022] The invention also specifically includes all narrow ranges withina broad range (e.g. 1-125 ppm specifically includes 2-124, 29-125,50-60, and all other narrow ranges within the broad range).

[0023] While the invention has been described in connection with what ispresently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment,it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to thedisclosed embodiment, but on the contrary, is intended to cover variousmodifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit andscope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An emergency fuel for an internal combustionengine comprising a hydrocarbon solvent having a flash point of at least100° F. and a cold starting additive.
 2. The emergency fuel as recitedin claim 1, wherein the cold starting additive is selected from thegroup consisting essentially of: peroxides, azo compounds, cyanocompounds, cetane improvers, and combinations thereof.
 3. The emergencyfuel as recited in claim 2, wherein the cold starting additive includesdi-t-butyl peroxide.
 4. The emergency fuel as recited in claim 2,wherein the cold starting additive includes a cetane improver selectedfrom nitrates, nitrites, and nitro and nitroso compounds.
 5. Theemergency fuel as recited in claim 2, wherein the cold starting additiveis a combination of at least two additives selected from the groupconsisting essentially of: peroxides, azo compounds, cyano compounds,and cetane improvers.
 6. The emergency fuel as recited in claim 3,wherein the cold starting additive is a combination of at least twoadditives selected from the group consisting essentially of: peroxides,azo compounds, cyano compounds, and cetane improvers.
 7. The emergencyfuel as recited in claim 4, wherein the cold starting additive is acombination of at least two additives selected from the group consistingessentially of: peroxides, azo compounds, cyano compounds, and cetaneimprovers.
 8. The emergency fuel as recited in claim 1, wherein the coldstarting additive is present in an amount less than 5000 ppm.
 9. Theemergency fuel as recited in claim 1, wherein the cold starting additiveis present in an amount less than 1000 ppm.
 10. The emergency fuel asrecited in claim 1, wherein the cold starting additive is present in anamount less than 150 ppm.
 11. The emergency fuel as recited in claim 2,wherein the cold starting additive is present in an amount less than5000 ppm.
 12. The emergency fuel as recited in claim 5, wherein the coldstarting additive is present in an amount less than 5000 ppm.
 13. Theemergency fuel as recited in claim 1, wherein the hydrocarbon solvent isselected from the group consisting essentially of: (a) from about 65-75%of paraffins, and from about 25-35% of naphthenes; (b) from about 75-85%of paraffins, and from about 15-25% of C7 or higher alcohols; (c) anaromatic solvent; (d) a naphthalene-depleted aromatic solvent; and (e)combinations of (a)-(d).
 14. The emergency fuel as recited in claim 2,wherein the hydrocarbon solvent is selected from the group consistingessentially of: (a) from about 65-75% of paraffins, and from about25-35% of naphthenes; (b) from about 75-85% of paraffins, and from about15-25% of C7 or higher alcohols; (c) an aromatic solvent; (d) anaphthalene-depleted aromatic solvent; and (e) combinations of (a)-(d).15. The emergency fuel as recited in claim 10, wherein the hydrocarbonsolvent is selected from the group consisting essentially of: (a) fromabout 65-75% of paraffins, and from about 25-35% of naphthenes; (b) fromabout 75-85% of paraffins, and from about 15-25% of C7 or higheralcohols; (c) an aromatic solvent; (d) a naphthalene-depleted aromaticsolvent; and (e) combinations of (a)-(d).
 16. The emergency fuel asrecited in claim 1, wherein the hydrocarbon solvent has a flash point ofat least about 150° F.
 17. A method of starting a cold engine with anemergency fuel comprising a hydrocarbon solvent as recited in claim 1,the method comprising the steps of supplying the emergency fuel of claim1 to a cold engine, and starting the engine.
 18. A method of starting acold engine with an emergency fuel comprising a hydrocarbon solvent asrecited in claim 2, the method comprising the steps of supplying theemergency fuel of claim 2 to a cold engine, and starting the engine. 19.A method as recited in claim 17 wherein the method is practiced with thecold engine at substantially ambient temperature.
 20. An additive systemfor an emergency fuel, the additive system comprising a cold startingadditive selected from the group consisting essentially of: peroxides,azo compounds, cyano compounds, cetane improvers, and combinationsthereof.